Barrel



June 1937- c. B. ARNOLD 2,034,832

BARREL Filed May 15, 1955 Patented June 22, 1937 hdhddi EQE Delaware mour-Peck Co., Chicago, 111., a corporation of Application May 13, 1935, Serial No. 21,133

3 Claims.

This invention which relates to a barrel is concerned more particularly with certain improvements in the closure therefor. The various objects attained by my invention include the production of a barrel, desirably from multi-plywood,

which is even and smooth, interiorly and exteriorly, permitting the close fitting thereto of closures in the form of heads so as to prevent leakage or sifting of loose material; and the construction for the barrel of heads which have greater flexibility in one direction than in another whereby the heads may be applied in place or'be removed therefrom in a manner which is expeditious and advantageous. The features of invention herein claimed were first disclosed in my application for patent filed October 5, 1931, under Serial No. 566,866.

In order that my invention may be better understood, reference will now be had to the accompanying drawing wherein Figure 1 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical section illustrating the top head in position within a plywood barrel having a tape applied to the inside'o'f its seam;

Fig. 2 is a detail in section as viewed on line 2 of'Fig. 1;

' Fig. 3 is an end elevation of the barrel top;

Fig. 4 which is a perspective View of the upper end of the barrel shows the top head in process of being fitted in place; and

Fig. 5 is a similar view illustrating the steps required in removal of the top head.

According to this invention, the barrel body or shell A may be formed of plywood made preferably from three sheets of veneer, a, b and c which are adhered together over every portion of their contacting surfaces. The outer sheets a and c are arranged with the grains running lengthwise, i. e., circumferentially of the cylindrical barrel body to be formed therefrom, whereas the inner sheet I; has its grain oppositely disposed, i. e., longitudinally of the barrel body. Three sheets having their grains so disposed are united into a boardby glue or other adhesive following which they are placed in a press to insure perfect bond and flatness. Later the edges of the plywood board are cut, as required, to trim to the proper dimensions.

The plywood board so formed is perfectly flat and relatively stiff, the glue having been set therein. It lends itself readily to bending, however, when subjected to heat and pressure in a suitable forming machine. This is accordingly the next step-the bending of the board, the ma- 55 terial being thereby formed into a permanently fixed cylindrical shell, as shown in Figs. 3, 4 and 5. While undergoing this operation of forming, the fibers of the united plies oi the board are expanded or contracted, according as they occupy outer or inner positions and fixed in such condition, so that the board ends remain square cut as before.

Due to the manner in which the board plies are arranged, assembled and bent, the shell will retain indefinitely its cylindrical shape without reinforcement. In addition, the grains of the inner and outer plies, being circumferentially disposed, are required to bend in conformity with the cylindrical curvature which is imparted to the plywood. This takes place without surface distortion or separation of the wood fibers. The surfaces of the veneer sheets being smooth prior to assembly into a plywood board, it follows that these surfaces will remain smooth after the board is bent to cylindrical form; splitting or splintering of the exposed plywood surfaces, with possible detriment to the barrel contents, is thereby avoided. In .addition, the retention of these smooth surfaces will permit the application to the barrel of linings, labels, and the like with greater security.

Each shell is next operated upon by a nailing or stapling machine. For this purpose the meeting ends of the shell, while in butt engagement, may be rested upon an anvil (not shown), a strip l5, preferably of sheet metal, is then laid over the shell at the seam, and the machine is operated to drive nails or staples it through the strip and shell by which to securely join the ends thereof in butt relation. The strip so applied makes a joint which is close and neat. If desired, upon the interior of the shell a tape I? of paper, fabric or the like, may be adhered along the seam to further close the joint and prevent leakage or sifting of loose material from within the barrel.

After the two ends of the shell are closely joined, as above described, reinforcing hoops l3 are applied to the exterior. These may be of wood with the ends scarfed to make a smooth joint, or they may be of steel, either kind being well known in the art. The hoops so set in place are laid over the adjacent ends of the strip l5. The remaining steps in the manufacture of the barrel include the positioning of stays l9 interiorly, and their securement as by nails or staples 20 the ends of which are clinched in the usual manner. Thereafter one or both heads B are fitted against the stays and secured in place with the aid of outer stays 2!.

The hoops which are applied circumferentially to the barrel may be arranged flush with the ends thereof, or otherwise, if desired. With the barrel body formed of plywood having its inner plies and outer plies arranged with the grain running circumferentially, the barrel ends are formed relatively smooth. The only rough surface is the narrow transversely cut intermediate ply which is flanked on both sides by the outer plies. Accordingly, and without special care, the hoops applied to the ends of the barrel in flush relation therewith build out the thickness of its walls sufficiently to provide barrel ends which are of substantial width.

The heads to be fitted to the ends of this barrel are desirably composed of three plies, ar, y and 2:, arranged and assembled the same as are the plies in the shells (see Fig. 3), i. e., the grains of the outer plies are parallel, and transverse to those of the intermediate ply. Each head is cut in circular form of a size to require driving to position against the associated stay, and the periphery of each head is desirably beveled or slanted somewhat with respect to its opposite faces, whereby one is slightly smaller than the other. With a head so sized as to require driving to position, this feature is advantageous. In practice, the head is positioned with its smaller face confront:- ing the barrel end. Initially the head can be fitted only partially within the barrel, requiring it to assume a slanting position thereupon; and in executing this operation it is desirable that the head be so positioned rotatively that the grains of its outer plies shall extend transversely of the direction in which the. head is slanted. When advanced in response to a driving force, the

beveled edges of the head act in wedge fashion to push out the impeding barrel walls. While underdoing this movement, the head may flex somewhat in the direction at right angles to the grains of its outer plies to permit considerable of its periphery to advance into the barrel, and thereby exert an outward pressure thereupon, preliminary to advance of the remaining portions of the head periphery. This method of applying the heads in place is found advantageous in practice, and is rendered possible by reason of the head flexibility being greater in one direction than in another, clue to the assembly of its plies with the grains disposed as aforesaid. This flexing property of the head, plus the beveled character of its periphery, facilitates advance of the head to final position within the barrel whereby a tight fit essential to a leak-proof joint is attained. v

To quickly determine the correct rotative position of the head to be first inserted into the open end of a barrel into which it is to be fitted, whereby the head may flex diametrically in the direction of the first inserted side edge portion and thereby exert anoutward expanding pressure upon the inner side walls .of the barrel to cause said walls to conform to the true circular contour of the head as the head is progressively advanced to final flat position within the barrel, the outer side edge portion of the head last to enter the barrel is provided with a marker 23.

In Fig. 4, I have shown a top head B as positioned initially over the barrel end preliminary to being fitted therewithin. To assist in removing as well as inserting the head to flat condition within the barrel, the marker 23 may conveniently take the form of a ring or pull fastened to the outer face of the head adjacent the edge thereof which is the last to enter the barrel. In driving the head to position, the head is free to flex somewhat, as above described, and its entrance into the barrel may be facilitated by tapping the adjacent hoop at various places, as will shortly be described. To remove the head from the position shown in Fig. 5, the ring is pulled outwardly and at the same time the head is tapped upon its side opposite to the ring with a hammer or other convenient tool. This causes the head to spring out, and so reduces the effort which otherwise would be required.

In applying the heads in place, I assemble therewith a disk of paper 22 or the like having a diameter slightly exceeding that of the head. The disk edges projecting beyond the head are required to bend up and lap past the edges of the head so as to lie between the head and inner surface of the barrel. In practice a head with assembled disk is fitted over the barrel end and partly inserted therein. To advance the head to position a driving force is applied, as by a' hammer. The blows are directed not altogether upon the head, but in part against one or more places upon the proximate hoop surrounding the barrel body. Because of the relative sizes of the head and barrel any deviation on the part of either from a perfect circle will prevent the one being fitted into the other; and since there is less chance of the head being out of true, the procedure is totap the barrel at one or more places where it is possibly protruding, with the result that'the shell curvature is thereby corrected sufiiciently to receive the head completely. In this operation, the edges of the disk trail along outside of the head to close any gap which might otherwise exist. The heads may be driven to position without danger of splitting or breaking down the inner ply of the barrel, this being due in part to the beveled peripheries of the heads, and in part to the use of three plies in the barrel body, assembled andbent in the manner already described, such a construction tending to retain its cylindrical form so as to facilitate fitting within the barrel ends of heads which are truly circular.

The disk of paper or the like should have strength along with thinness sufficient to resist tearing when positioned around a tight fitting head. For this purpose I find certain grades of kraft paper to be suit-able. During application of the head to the barrel the paper disk serves to reduce to some extent at least the friction occasioned by the tight fit of these parts. This friction may be further reduced by applying'to one or both faces of the disk a wax finish which promotes easy sliding movement. It will thus be noted that such a disk, besides providing a desirable liner at the barrel ends, acts somewhat as a shoe horn in assisting movement of a tight fitting head to its final position within the barrel.

I claim: 1. A barrel having a head constructedto flex in one transverse direction only and so dimensioned as to fit within the barrel with a degreeof tightness which, for its practical application, requires the head to enter the barrel one side edge first and thereafter to flex diametrically in the direction of said edge while being forced to position, means positioned on the upper face of said head for directing said initial insert of said head within the barrel, and means incorporated in the structure of the head for opposing fiexation thereof in any direction other than, that above noted. 7 7 H I p 2. A barrel having a head constructed to flex in one transverse direction only and so dimen- '75 sioned as to fit within the barrel with a degree of tightness which, for its practical application, requires the head to enter the barrel one side edge first and thereafter to flex diametrically in the direction of said edge while being forced to position, head grasping means on the upper face of said head for directing said initial insert of said head Within the barrel, said head being beveled throughout its periphery to reduce the 10 area of its inner face, a flexible sheet disk having a diameter somewhat greater than that of the head positioned adjacent the inner face thereof with its edges turned later-ally past the edges of the head to lie intermediately of the head and 15 barrel, the disk having tensile strength combined with thinness sufficient to lie Within the space between the head and barrel without rupturing during movement of the head to flat final position within the barrel, and means incorporated 20 in the structure of said head for opposing flexation in any other direction than that above noted during said movement.

3. A barrel having a head constructed to flex in one transverse direction only and so dimensioned as to fit within the barrel with a degree of tightness which, for its practical application, requires the head to enter the barrel one side edge first and thereafter to flex diametrically in the direction of said edge while being forced to position, manipulating means on said head adjacent one edge thereof for directing said initial insert of said head within the barrel, said edge of the head being beveled circumferentially to reduce slightly the area of its inner face permitting such a tight fitting head to enter the barrel one edge first, and means incorporated in the structure of the head for opposing fiex-ation thereof in any direction other than that above noted during insertion of the head to flat condi tion within the barrel.

CHARLES B. ARNOLD. 

